Post thumbnail
The Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has published a consultation paper as part of its review into the WA Fitness Industry Code. Feedback is being sought from fitness services providers, consumers, industry associations and other interested parties as to the effectiveness and appropriateness of the Code. Attending a gym or fitness…
Read More WA Fitness Industry Code Review
Post thumbnail
The Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee has recently conducted a review of customer owned banking institutions’ compliance with privacy obligations under Section D23 and Key Promise 8 of the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code). A copy of the report can be found at here. Privacy own motion inquiry As Australia moves…
Read More Privacy and data security in customer owned banking institutions
Post thumbnail
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) invites applications from consumer organisations to join its key telco consumer advisory group—the Consumer Consultative Forum (CCF). ‘Communications services are increasingly central to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing. We want to better understand the consumers’ needs in the contemporary and future communications environment’ ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin. The…
Read More ACMA invites consumer reps to join key telco forum
Post thumbnail
After 1 July, Australian consumers will have much greater certainty about the origins of the food they buy, due to the introduction of mandatory Country of Origin food labelling. The ACCC will conduct market surveillance checks on 10,000 food products to ensure businesses are correctly displaying the new labels. All businesses – including manufacturers, processors…
Read More Country of origin food labelling surveillance to commence
Post thumbnail
Standards Australia announced today that the 2018 edition of AS/NZS 3000:2018, Electrical Installations (known as the Wiring Rules) has been published in Australia and New Zealand. The new standard, created through collaboration between industry and government, has now been published with key updates in important areas, such as main switches, residual current devices (RCDs) and DC wiring…
Read More 2018 Wiring Rules are now available for licensed electrical practitioners
Post thumbnail
Australia’s leading consumer groups will join forces in Canberra today to call on the Federal Government to strengthen our laws to stop irresponsible, harmful lending practices in our financial services sector. “Irresponsible lending and crippling debt are having a real, devastating impact on Australians, putting people at risk of bankruptcy, homelessness and life-long debt,” says…
Read More Fair Finance Day of Action
Post thumbnail
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has admitted that competition among energy retailers is not delivering ‘expected benefits’ in its annual retail energy competition review. Consumer Action Law Centre and PIAC’s Energy and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program (EWCAP) are calling for stronger action by energy retailers and regulators to ensure that the market is working…
Read More Consumer advocate groups call for action by energy retailers and regulators
Post thumbnail
NBN Co has recently announced changes to wholesale prices charged to retail service providers (RSPs) from October 2018. These changes mean consumers can expect to pay higher prices to access NBN services. At the same time consumers can expect to have an improved experience as congestion in the network is addressed through greater dedication of…
Read More ACCAN’s Analysis of NBN Co’s recently announced Pricing Changes
Post thumbnail
As consumers, we want a digital world that we can trust. The recently published ISO 20488 standard on Online consumer reviews – Principles and requirements for their collection, moderation and publication is a great tool to give consumers more elements to enhance our trust. Consumers International was represented by Julie Hunter at the ISO Technical Committee on Online…
Read More Putting the trust back into online reviews
Post thumbnail
Telco consumers can expect a better complaints-handling experience under a new industry standard and record-keeping rules announced today by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This is the first tranche of new rules announced by the ACMA in December 2017 to improve consumers’ experience in migrating to the National Broadband Network (NBN). The ACMA’s actions follow its industry information-gathering exercise and its…
Read More ACMA rules kick in on telco complaints
Post thumbnail
The small print sizes many businesses use to show the unit price (price per unit of measure) of pre-packaged grocery and similar products is a major problem in Australia and other countries. To facilitate consideration of this important issue, a paper on it has been prepared by CFA executive committee member Ian Jarratt who is…
Read More Making grocery unit prices easier to notice and read
Post thumbnail
The Queensland Consumers Association is supporting the introduction of national rules for gift cards following the rules introduced recently in NSW. In its submission on a federal government discussion paper on options for national rules, the Association supports a minimum 3 year expiry period for gift cards but also wants other changes. Association spokesperson Ian…
Read More Consumers support National rules for gift cards